g-ledhill



(No Model.) 6 SheeLts-Sheet 2.

M. GLEDHIL BREEGH MECHANISM FOR ANOE.

No. 565,164. Patented Aug. 4, 1896.

A A I v V 6 Sheets-Sheet 4. HILL. BREECH MECHANISM FOR ORDNANGE. No.565,164

MQGLED (No Model.)

Pateg i 'gg Aug. 4, 1896.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

M. GLEDHILL. BREEGH MECHANISM FOR OIRDNANGE.

No. 565,164. Patented Aug. 4, 1896 (No Model.) 6 Shets-Sheet 6.

M. GLEDHILL. BRBBGH MECHANISM FOR ORION ANG E.

No. 565,164. Patented Aug. 4, 1896;

Mazzaasw/z MANASSAH GLEDHILL, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THESIR JOSEPH XVIIITIVORTI'I 8; COMPANY, LIMITED, OF SAME PLACE.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,164, dated August4, 1896. Application filed July 18, 1894. Serial No. 517,893. (Nomodel.) Patented in England June 2, 1892, No. 10,537.

T LLZZ whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, MANAssAH GLEDHILL, director of the Sir Joseph\Vhitworth & Oompan'y, Limited, engineers, of Openshaw, Manchester,England, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident ofOpenshaw, Manchester, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Breech Mechanism for Quick-Firing and other Guns,

:0 (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 10,537,bearing date June 2, 1892,) of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

5 My invention relates partly to breech mechanism of that class whereinthe breech is closed by a screw breech-block with interrupted orsegmental screw-threads supported with a capability of turning on itsaxis in a carrier or bracket hinged to one side of the breech end of thegun. In breech mechanism of this class the opening of the breechinvolves. first, the partial rotation of the breech-block about itsaxis; secondly, the withdrawal of the said block from the gun, and,thirdly, the movement of the said block away from the breech by turningthe bracket about its hinge or pivot. The closing of the breech involvesthe reverse of these operations.

0 According to my invention, which is more especially advantageous forquick-firing guns of large caliber, I provide an improved handleverarrangement for very rapidly opening and closing the breech withoutnecessitating 3 5 the removal of the hand from the lever during theoperation. I also provide improved means for preventing any possibilityof firing the gun when the breech is not properly closed and locked, andalso for preventing any possibility of the unfastenin g or unlocking ofthe breech-block by or during the firing of the gun, and for putting themechanism to half cock after closing the breech. These improvements areapplicable to guns which fire 5 metallic cartridges or to those in whichthe breech-block is fitted with an obturator and with either a top orrear vent.

Figure 1 is a rear end elevation of a gunbreech constructed according tomy invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section on the line a::0, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal central section of the same.

Fig. 4 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line a as, Fig.1, showing a detail hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is a similar sectionshowing 5 5 the breech-block partially withdrawn. Fig.

6 is a rear elevation of a portion of the gun and of theoperating-handle, partly in section, also drawn to a larger scale. Fig.'7 is a similar view showing the handle in a dilferent position andunlocked ready to be turned down; and Fig. 8 is a detail perspectiveView of the breech end of the gun, showing the breech partially open.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is the breech end of the gunbarrel.

B is the breech-block. The taper-screw breech-block is supported by acarrier or bracket D, which is in the form of a ring and hinged on thebolt F at one side of the breech. The said carrier is provided withrecesses D for receiving the screw-threaded portions of the breech-blockwhen the latter is withdrawn. from the breech, as hereinafter described.The rear end of the breech-block, which extends through thecarrier-ring, has 011 it two projecting cheeks B B", between which theoperatinglever M is situated. The said lever extends across the ring Dand carries pins M M, which project into grooves 13 in the inner facesof the said cheeks B and thus connect the lever to the breech-block. Thesaid lever M is pivoted at M to a piece M which is mounted on a curvedguide D", formed on or attached to the carrier-ring D. The curvature ofthe guide is such as to have for its center the axis of thebreech-block. The guide is grooved, as at D on each side thereof, withwhich grooves the internal 9o flanges M M formed on the piece M engage.The piece M can slide freely on the guide D.

It will be seen from this construction that whenthe breech-block isturned about its axis the fulcrum of the operating-lever M 9 5 maintainsa constant distance from the cen ter of the breech-block, and whilebeing securely held upon the ring D it can turn with the breech-blockand thus adapt itself to the different positions of the said block.WVhen the breech-block has been turned to unlock the same from thebreech, it can then be pan tially withdrawn by a straight rearward pullon the operating-lever, which, acting through the pins M, causes theblock to slide through the carrier-ring until the screw-threadedsections thereof arrive at the end of the recesses D whereupon thecontinued rearward pull on the lever causes the carrier-ring to swingabout its hinge and thus removes the breechblock clear of the breech.The lever M is made hollow at the lower half of the forward face, asindicated at M, to allow of the rearward travel of the breech-blockduring the time it is sliding through the carrier-ring.

M is a handle pivoted to the lever M at M in such manner that it canform a straight continuation of the lever M and so give ample purchaseto turn the breech-block, and it can be turned down to the positionshown in Fig. 2, in which position it looks the breechblock to preventthe rotation thereof while firing, as will be hereinafter described. Thepivot-pin M of the said handle has on it a projection m, which when thehandle is raised to form an approximately straight continuation of thelever M is in line with a recess or keyway m, Fig. 7, in the said handleM and is then, as soon as the breech-block has been turned to partiallyunlock the same, pushed into the said recess by a spring m containedwithin a cap m and arranged to press against a shoulder of thepivot-pin.

m Fig. 6, is a recess formed in the lever M to receive the projection mand operating to prevent the rotation of the pin M while allowing it toslide axially. \Vhen the projection m is engaged with the keyway m, itlooks the handle M and retains the said handle in the extended position,that is to say, in line with the lever M. m" isalug or shoulder on thebreech-ring forming a stop with which one side of the operating-levercomes in contact, and is thereby arrested when the breech-block isproperly screwed home. The said stop also serves to unlock the handle Mas follows, that is to say, the end of the pivotpin M is constructed toproject beyond the side of the lever M, so that when the said lever isturned to screw the breech-block home the said pin strikes the stop mbefore the lever is arrested and is thereby moved axially against theresistance of the spring m and thus withdraws the key m from the keywayon, as shown in Fig. 7. The handle M is then free to be turned about itspivot-pin M WVhen opening the breech, the handle M is first raised andthen operated to turn the -breech-block, and immediately the lever Mretires from the stop m the spring m operates to push the pin M axiallyand thus lock the handle M by forcing the lug m into the recess m.

m is another stop formed on the carrierring to limit the rotary movementof the lever N when unscrewing the breeelrblook.

m is a recess or depression formed in the face of the carrier-ring D ina position which is opposite the hinge of the handle M when the breechis closed.

on is a short extension of the handle M beyond the pivot, whichextension is adapted to enter the said recess when the handle is turneddown, as shown in Fig. 2. When so turned down, the handle serves to lockthe breech-block in its closed position.

0 is a plate fitted to slide within the lever M and connected at itsupper end by a short link 0 with the handle M so that by turning thehandle about its pivot M the plate 0 can be caused to slide along thelever M. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the plate is constructed to slidein guideways or grooves 0*, provided in the lever. The pivot holes ofthe link 0 are elongated to allow the lever B 7 to turn the requiredamount. \Nhen this improved mechanism is adapted for firing metalliccartridges, the said sliding plate 0 carries a combined trigger andcocking-piece 0 The said trigger is formed with a shank 0 which canslide in a socket 0 fixed to the plate 0.

0 is a spring for forcing the trigger outward from the socket. o is thestem or spindle of the trigger, which extends through the back of thesocket and is attached to an eyebolt 0 0 is the lanyard for pulling thetrigger.

The hammer p is in the form of a threearmed lever and has its fulcrum ona pin 19, extending transversely through a rectangular block 23 let intothe end of the breech-block. One arm, 19 ,05 the said hammer extendsbackward through the rear face of the breechblock into the path of thetrigger. Another arm, p, extends upward and engages with the firing-pinp and the other arm, 19, has on it a pin or stud 13, upon which bearsthe main spring 13 I prefer that the firing-pin should be attached to apiece f, having a slot 17 through which the arm 19 of the hammerextends. lVith this construction it will be seen that when the triggeris pulled to release the hammer the arm 19 of the latter rises in frontof the trigger and prevents the trigger recovering its initial position.When, however, the handle M is raised for the purpose of opening thebreech, it carries with it the slide 0 and trigger until the latter israised above the arm p whereupon the spring 0 immediately acts to forcethe trigger out again above the end of the arm p of the hammer. When newthe handle M is turned down again to the position shown in Fig. 2 afterhaving reclosed the breech, the plate 0 is depressed, carrying with itthe trigger, which latter is thereby caused to depress the arm p andthus recock the hammer. For preventing the raising of the handle Munless and until the gun has been fired, I provide a safety lockingdevice, as follows, that is to say, I attach to the rear face of thelever M, just below the trigger-socket o, a piece q, carrying aspring-actuated bolt (1, which projects ICO 565,16& 3

through the lever and is adapted to enter a hole 0 in the plate 0 whenthe saidplate is depressed, and thus lock the plate to theoperating-lever. The said bolt g has a projecting lip g which is adaptedto engage with a correspondinglip 0 projecting from the eyebolt 0 sothat when the said bolt is pulled to release the hammer it at the sametime withdraws the locking-bolt g from the hole 0 of the sliding plate0, and thus enables the handle M to be raised for the purpose ofunlocking the breech-block and opening the breech. The bolt q isprovided with a stem q to enable it to be withdrawn directly from thehole 0", when desired, without pulling the lanyard.

In combination with the aforesaid breechblock and carrier-ring I providedevices for locking the carrier-ring to the gun when the breech isclosed and for locking the breechblock to the carrier-ring whenwithdrawn from the gun. For these purposes I attach to the peripheralsurface of the ring a small bracket 1', to which I pivot at r a shortlever 0-, which is curved at its forward end to form a latch. In theface of the breech end of the gun I form a cavity r over which Isecurely fix a plate r having a hole o smaller than the cavity 0'through which hole the forward or curved end of the said lever 7" canproject. The other end of the said lever is connected by a pin 1' with aspring-actuated bolt r, one end of which passes through the carrier-ringin the proper position to enter a hole 7' in the periphery of thebreech-block when the block has been withdrawn from the gun;

The operation of this mechanism is as follows: hen the breech-block hasbeen turned to disengage its screw-threads from those of the breech, therearward pull on the handle M causes the block to slide out through thecarrier-ring until its screw-threaded sections arrive at the end of therecess D in the ring. In this position of the block the hole 1' thereinis in line with the pin '2', and the said pin is free to enter the saidhole when the forward end of the lever r is released. The continued pullon the handle 3 7 now causes the carrierring to swing on its hinge,because the latch or lever r is no longer prevented from turning aboutits pivot. The same movement which causes the lever or latch r to clearthe edge of the hole 0'' also causes or allows the bolt 1" to enter thehole 0 in the breech-block and lock the block to the carrier-ring.During the reclosing of the breech the curved face '1' of the lever 1"slides over the curved edge 1- of the hole 1' and the lever is therebyturned about its pivot, thus compressing the spring on the bolt 9' untilthe latch passes behind the inner edge of the hole r and the bolt 0- iswithdrawn from the hole 1, thus freeing the breech-block. The latter isthen pushed into the breech by the continued thrust on the lever M and aplain part of the breech-block passes underneath the bolt 1", thuslockin g the said bolt and preventing the unlatching of the carrier-ringuntil the breech has again been withdrawn,as above described.

The extracting mechanism consists of a lever 8, which is pivoted on apin 3, passed through the body of the gun. The inner end of the saidlever is adapted to engage with the rim of the cartridge, and the outerend abuts against a block 3 which is arranged to slide in parallelgrooves .9 extending forward from the joint or hinge of thecarrier-bracket along the side of the gun. The said carrier has a lug orprojection 8 which in the open ing of the breech acts upon the rearextremity s of the block 8 and slides the said block in its groove, thusacting upon the extractor-lever in such a manner as to withdraw thespent cartridge from the gun.

What I claim is l. The combination of the breech-block, anoperating-lever coupled thereto and hinged or pivoted to a block whichis free to slide on a curved guide attached to the breech-blockcarrierbracket so that the lever can turn with the breech-block, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination, with the breech-block of an operating-lever situatedbetween cheeks on the breech-block and connected therewith by pinsworking in grooves, said lever being hinged or pivoted to a block whichis free to slide on a curved guide attached to the breechblock-carrierbracket so that the lever can turn with the breech-block, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination of the breech-block, an operating-lever connectedthereto and hinged or pivoted to a block which is free to slide on acurved guide attached to the breech-blockcarrier bracket so that thelever can turn with the breech-block, and a handle pivoted to the saidlever, said handle having a projection m adapted when the breeoh-blockis screwed home to enter a recess m" in the carrierbracket whereby theturning of the handle about its pivot is caused to lock the breechblock,substantially as described.

4. The combination of the breech-block, an operating-lever connectedtheretoand hinged or pivoted to a block which is free to slide on acurved guide attached to the breech-blockcarrier bracket so that thelever can turn With the breech-block, a handle pivoted to the said leveron a hinge-pin M which is adapted to slide axially in its bearings andproject through the side of the lever, a lug or formed on the hinge-pinand adapted to enter a recess m in the handle M a spring at to force thesaid lug m into the said recess m when the handle is raised, therebylocking the handle in its raised position, and a stop on on thecarrier-bracket so arranged that as the breechblock is being screwedhome the projecting end of the pin M will strike the stop m and bethereby moved against the pressure of the spring m to disengage the lugm from the recess m thus unlocking the handle and permitting it to beturned down, about its pivot, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the breech-block, an operating-lever connectedthereto and hinged or pivoted to a block which is free to slide on acurved guide attached to the breech-blockcarrier bracket so that thelever can turn with the breech-block, a handle pivoted to the said leverand coupled by a link 0 to a plate 0 adapted to slide in guides in theoperatinglever, and a spring-controlled combined cocking-piece andtrigger 0 mounted in a socket 0 carried by the plate 0, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose specified.

G. The combination of the breech-block, an operating-lever connectedthereto and hinged or pivoted to a block which is free to slide on acurved guide attached to the breech-blockcarrier bracket so that thelever can turn with the breech-block, a handle pivoted to the said leverand coupled by a link 0 to a plate 0 adapted to slide in guides in theoperatinglever, a spring-controlled combined cockingpiece and trigger omounted in a socket 0 carried by the plate 0, a spring locking-pin qmounted to slide in a socket fixed to the operating-lever and projectinginto a hole in the sliding plate 0 thereby locking said plate, and afinger 1 formed on the pin (1 to engage a part of the trigger so thatwhen the trigger is pulled the said locking-pin q will be simultaneouslywithdrawn from the hole in the plate 0, substantially as, and for thepurpose specified.

'7. In a breech-loading gun the combination of the breech-block, thecarrier-bracket, the lever r pivoted to the carrier-bracket andarticulated at its rear end to the spring-controlled pin 0 which isadapted to enter a hole r in the breech-block when the latter isunscrewed and partially withdrawn from the breech, the said lever 1"being curved at its forward end to form a latch and adapted to engage alatch-plate r attached to the gun, said latch-plate having a curved face9' to ride over the outer curved surface of the latch as thecarrierbracket is being shut to the breech,substantially as describedfor the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of June,1894:.

MANASSAH GLEDHILL.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. GLEDHILL, ARTHUR E. HALL.

